Hello! I am a senior in high school currently and I live in Iowa. I want to get a BFA at a private art school and I’m willing to move anywhere for it so location isn’t an issue, although I do like the thought of living in California, and don’t want to stay in the Midwest super badly. Finances aren’t a huge deal I guess, I’ll be banking on financial aid and scholarships and being in debt for the rest of it. I want to major in illustration or printmaking. I like the idea of being able to concentrate in two areas or minor in something as well. I already submitted my applications for Kansas City Art Institute and School of the Art Institute of Chicago and am almost done with California College of the Arts and OTIS applications.
I’ve been set on those 4 schools for quite a long time now, but with less than a week before deadlines for most schools, I’m getting nervous and thinking about other schools. I know SAIC and CCA are at the top of a lot of people’s lists for good art colleges so I’m glad I am applying to those, but RISD, MICA, SCAD and Art Center are all on my mind as well.
I was originally going to apply to Art Center as well until I found out that there is no foundation year. That turns me away because I’m not 100% sure what I want to major in (I’ve toyed with the idea of fashion and animation as well) and my portfolio has a lot of mixed media and some digital imaging work. Would I still get accepted if I applied with a non-concentrated portfolio?
For RISD and MICA, I’m worried about the acceptance rates more than anything and don’t know if I should waste my money on applying. Is the program at those schools much better for printmaking, illustration, etc rather than the 4 I’m already applying to?
As far as SCAD goes I’ve just heard a lot of mixed things and I’m unsure. I never really looked into the school at all before this week and I feel like I don’t know enough about it, but I see pretty good things about it generally.
So basically, I’m applying to SAIC, CCA, OTIS and KCAI and want to know if RISD, MICA, SCAD or Art Center should be in the running as well based on the major I’m looking at or if the list I already have should be good. Any input is appreciated, thanks!
My daughter is in her first year at SAIC and absolutely loves it. She finds the foundation year very valuable. She also likes the flexibility of class choice. Her main interest is fashion design, but she’s also interested in fibers and material arts and has developed an interest in illustration now, as well.
I think if you can afford to, however, you should absolutely apply to other schools that interest you. In the end, after visiting Accepted Students Days at SAIC, RISD, and Pratt, surprisingly to all of us (most of all to her), SAIC came out on top. But it’s different for everyone.
My D just graduated from MCAD, majoring in illustration but also took printmaking classes as well. They have the foundation year you are looking for as well. KCAI was her second choice when applying. She found SAIC to be too conceptual for her. MCAD does have animation and I think they were found some fashion courses for transfer students coming in from a school that was closing.
If you aren’t dead set on a private art school, check out Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. Fantastic printmaking program, has a foundation year (two years actually before you declare your major), and OOS tuition there is $10-20k less than the private art schools. Philadelphia also has three fine private art schools, Moore College of Art and Design, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, and University of the Arts. It’s a great arts city and lots of graduates of all these schools find jobs locally.
RISD has extra portfolio requirements and unless you are really fast and good you probably don’t have enough time to do them and get them in. You have to do two pieces and snail-mail them in. It is an extraordinarily difficult foundation program and you are in studio 8 hours a day. Tyler requires a small self portrait in addition to the regular portfolio. You get a break from “art all day” because you do have gen ed classes.
Daughter graduated from RISD. Work load is ungodly but useful. She took classes every year at Brown University. It is is a demanding school, but my husband and I felt that it taught her how to learn on her own. And she is not afraid to tackle anything. That school gave her many many valuable lessons. (Rome, conservation of art, book making, museum skills) That said KCAI has a very supportive art scene around it. Those kids get to try many things. It is a very liveable and inexpensive city.
What is important is to find YOUR fit for a school. I found walking on a campus is valuable if you can afford to go see the school. Do your research and don’t be afraid to call people and ask questions. It’s very important to keep an open mind. Good luck.
MICA is also relatively inter-disciplinary. I would put it between SAIC and RISD in terms of flexibility. It’s possible to specialize in more than one field. Typically, then, you’d have your major and also a concentration (another set of courses in a particular area not related to your major).
@redbug my D has been accepted to MCAD. I really like that school! (the campus, the facilities, the focus on professional development . . . ). We live in the Minneapolis metro area so she’s hung out there a lot in recent years - therefore, she’s probably flying the coop and going out east somewhere. But we were just there the other day looking at the 3D print exhibition and stopped for a bite at the Bistro and I have to say I enjoyed every minute we were there! Too bad I’m not the one going to art school.